Sound deflector for accordions



P 1948- R. PANCOTTI 8,

SOUND DEFLECTOR FOR ACCORDIONS Filed March 7, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet l 46 L INVENTOR.

ROBERTO PANCOTTI AT TOR N EY.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7, 1947 INVENTOR. ROBERTO PANCOTT! BY w ATTORNEY.

R. PANCOTT] SOUND DEFLECTOR FOR ACCORDIONS Sept. 7, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March "I, 1947 INVENTOR- ROBERTO PANCOTTI.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 7, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,448,682 SOUND DEFLECTOR FOR ACCORDIONS Roberto Pancotti, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 7, 1947, Serial No. 733,061

9 Claims.

This invention relates to accordions and more particularly to means for directing and blending sound waves emanating from such an instrument.

Accordions as they are now constructed have a tendency to produce tonal efiects in which the bass and treble notes are not well harmonized or blended due to the separation of the bass and treble sections of the instrument. Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide an improved accordion construction in which the separated sections of the instrument are each provided with means for deflecting the sound waves produced therein, towards each other, thereby harmonizing the deflected sound waves to produce a rich tone with the notes in a desirable staccato relationship.

A further object of this invention is to provide the bass and treble sections of an accordion with hoods which are adapted to direct the sound waves emanating from each of the sections towards each other thereby producing a richer tone than that obtainable from instruments of conventional design.

Accordions, as normally constructed, include fabric coverings for the grill openings and bass slots in the instrument. The cloth coverings have a tendency to affect the tonal quality of the instrument and furthermoraact as dust collectors which may also affect the performance of the instrument.

' Accordingly yet another object of this invention to provide an improved accordion construction in which a hood construction extends over the openings in the treble and bass sections of the instrument, thereby eliminating the need for the conventional cloth coverings to such openings and permitting free venting of the sound waves emanating from the openings in the instrument.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a surable, improved accordion of simplified construction which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which shall be highly efficient in use.

' Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an accordion construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the accordion construction shown in Fig. 1;

Fig, 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 -3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, I'll designates an accordion construction embodying the invention. The sam comprises a treble section I I, a bass section I2, an interconnecting bellows l3 and a keyboard l4 extending from the treble section.

The treble section I l comprises an open bottomed reed chamber l5 which comprises a front wall IS, a rear wall l1, side walls l8, l9 and a top wall 20. The top wall 20 is formed with openings 22 which communicate with openings in the usual reed blocks, I51 mounted within the reed chamber. The front wall l6 and portions of the sidewalls l8, l9 adjacent the front wall l6, are formed with spaced vertical slots 23 extending from the top wall 20 and having outwardly curved end portions 24 terminatingshort of the bottom edge of the wall IS. The lower portion of the keyboard is formed with an inwardly extending shoulder portion 25 which is parallel to the front wall [6 and in spaced relation to the rear edge of the top wall 20 of the casing I5.

An enclosing casing member 26 which may be formed of a molded plastic material, is mounted on the upper portion of the treble section. The same comprises a top wall 21, a, front wall 28 extending downwardly therefrom and side walls 29, 30, also extending downwardly from the top wall 21 and interconnected by front wall 28. The top wall 21 is formed with a. centrally located opening 3| through which projects shift keys connected to internal valve mechanism which is usually disposed between the top wall 2'! of the casing and top wall 20 of the reed chamber IS. The top wall '21 includes a rear edge 32 which is positioned on the shoulder '25 of the keyboard [4. The top wall 21 of the casing 26 is spaced from the top wall 20 of the chamber 15 and extends in a'downwardly inclined direction towards the front wall I 6 of the reed chamber. The front wall 28 of the casing 26 lies in contact with the front wall l6 of the reed chamber l5, covering the slotted portions 23 therein. The side walls, 30 of the casing 26 lie in contact with the side walls l8, IQ of the reed chamber l5, covering the slotted portions 23 therein.

The front wall 28 of the casing 26 is formed with a row of spaced openings 33 each of which is in alignment with the upper portion of a slot 23 in the front wall l-B of the reed chamber |5. A second row of openings 34 spaced from the row of openings 33, is formed in the front wall 28, each of the openings 34 being in alignment with a lower portion of a slot 23. In the same manner, the side walls 29, 36 are formed with similar openings in alignment with the slots 23 on the side walls l8, IQ of the reed chamber |5. The casing member 26 is further provided with a pair of similar deflecting members 35. The same comprise elongated strip walls 36 which may be formed of a molded plastic material and which are secured to the front wall 28 and is disposed immediately above each of the rows of openings 33, 34. The end portions of the walls 36 extend around the front corners of the casing 26 and lie in contact with the side walls 29, 39, over the openings 33, 34 therein. Extending outwardly from the lower edges of the walls 36, is an elongated, outwardly and downwardly curved wall 31 which extends over and in spaced relation to the rows of openings 33, 34 in the front wall 28 of the casing as shown in Fig. 3. The curved walls 31 also extend from the side portions of the walls 36, covering the openings 33, 34 on the side walls 29, 30 of the casing 26.

The bass section [2 of the accordion Ill includes the usual open top reed chamber |2a which corn-- prises a front wall 38, side walls 39, 40, a bottom wall 4| and a rear wall 42. The bottom Wall 4| is formed with the usual front openings 4|a which are closed by valves not shown. The front wall 38 is formed with an open portion 43 having parallel, inclined side edges 44, 45. A perforated panel 46 is mounted within the opening 43 in the usual manner. Buttons 4'! disposed in the perforations of the panel 46 control key bars within the chamber I2a, not shown.

The front wall 38 of the chamber |2a is further formed with a series of spaced, parallel slots 48, 49, '59 of staggered length disposed between the inclined edge 44 of the opening 43 and the end of the front wall. The longest slot 50 is disposed adjacentthe bottom edge of the wall 38. A similar series of spaced, parallel slots 48a, 49a, 50a of staggered length are formed in the side wall 39, at an end portion thereof adjacent the front wall 38. The two series of slots 48, 49, 50 and 48a, 49a, 53a are symmetrically arranged with respect to the corner portion formed by the intersection of front wall 38 and side wall 39-. In a similar manner the other end portion of the front wall 38 is formed with a series of slots of sta gered length 52, 53 disposed between the in clined edge 45 of the opening 43 and the end of the wall. The slots 5|, 52, 53 are similar to the slots 46, 49, 56 except that the shortest slot 53 is disposed adjacent the lower edge of the. front wall 33. The side wall 4|] is also formed with a series of slots 5| a, 52a, 5311 which are symmetrically arranged with respect to slots 5|, '52, 53 in a manner similar to that previously described. It is understood that the slots 48, 49, '59; 48a, 49a, 56a; 5|, 52, 53 and 5m, 52a, 53a provide egress for the sound waves emanating from the bass reed chamber I'Za.

Means is provided for deflecting the sound waves coming from the slots in the bass reed chamber |2a in a direction towards the treble chamber l5. To this end, there is provided walled members 54 and 55 which are secured to the front corner portions of the bass chamber |2a in overlying and spaced relation to the slots at the said corner portions of the chamber. The member 54, which may be formed of a molded plastic material, comprises interconnected walls 56, 51 angularly disposed to each other. The wall 56 which overlies the slots in the, side wall 39 comprises an upwardly and outwardly inclined side edge 58 from which extends an inwardly turned flange portion 59 which is secured to the wall 39. Similarly, the wall 57 which overlies the slots in front wall 38, comprises an upwardly and inwardly inclined side edge 63 which is parallel to the edge 44 of the opening 43 in the front wall 38, from which extends an inwardly turned flange 6| which is secured to the wall 38. The lower edges of both walls 56, 51 are formed with a continuously extending inwardly turned flange 62 which interconnects flanges 59, 6| and is also secured to the walls 38, 39. It will be apparent that the member 54 constitutes a deflecting means for sound waves emanating from the slots 48, 49, 5|]; 48a, 49a, 55a tending to direct them in an upward direction towards the treble chamber I5. The opposite corner of the bass chamber |2a is also provided with the deflecting member 55 which is similar in its details, to the deflecting member 54 except that the edge 60a is outwardly and upwardly inclined, extending parallel to the side edge 45 of the opening 43 in the front wall 38 of the bass chamber l2a. Also the edge 58a is outwardly and upwardly inclined.

It is apparent that the members 35 are adapted to deflect the sound waves emanating from the treble section l through the openings 33, 34 in a downward direction towards the bass section while the members 54, 55 will direct the sound waves from the bass section l2 in an upward direction towards the treble section. This will effect a blending of sounds which will produce a richer tone than that heretofore possible with accordion strut cures known in the art.

It is also understood, that the deflecting members 35 may be formed integrally with the easing 26. In a similar manner the deflecting member 54, 55 may be formed integrally with the chamber |2a,

It will thus be seen that there is provided'a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass reed chambers interconnected by bellows, each of said chambers having sound transmitting openings in portions thereof, sound wave deflecting means'on each of said chambers adapted to direct the sound waves emanating from said chambers towards each other.

2. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass reed chambers interconnected by a bellows, each of said chambers having sound transmitting openings in portions thereof, sound wave deflecting means on each of said chambers, said deflecting means being positioned adjacent said openings whereby sound waves emanating from said openings will be directed towards each other.

3. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass reed chambers interconnected by a bellows, each of said chambers being formed with sound transmitting openings, sound wave deflecting means on each of said chambers, each of said deflecting means comprising walled mem bers disposed over said openings, said walled members having openings disposed towards each other.

4. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass chambers interconnected by a bellows, said treble chamber comprising a top wall and extending therefrom a front wall and side walls, said top wall being formed with openings, said front and side walls being formed with spaced slots, a casing member on the treble chamber, said casing enclosing the openings and slots in said treble chamber, thereby establishing communication between said openings and said slots, said casing being formed with openings in alignment with said slots and a deflecting member on said casing adjacent the openings in said casing and adapted to direct sound waves emanating from said openings towards said bass section.

5. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass chambers interconnected by a bellows, said treble chamber comprising a top wall and extending therefrom a front wall and side walls, said top wall being formed with openings, said front and side walls being formed with spaced slots, a casing member on the treble chamber, said casing enclosing the openings and slots in said treble chamber, thereby establishing com munication between said openings and said slots, said casing being formed with openings in alignment with said slots and a deflecting member on said casing adjacent the openings in said casing and adapted to direct sound waves emanating from said openings towards said bass section said deflecting member comprising a walled member extending outwardly from said casing in overlying relationship to the openings in said casing.

6. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass chambers interconnected by a bellows, said bass chamber comprising a bottom wall and extending therefrom front and side walls, said front formed with a series of perforations on either end thereof, each of said side walls being formed with a series of perforations on end portions thereof adjacent said front wall, and a pair of deflecting members on said bass chamber, each of said members being positioned over said perforated end portions of said front and side walls in spaced relation thereto and adapted to direct sound waves emanating from said openings towards said treble section.

7. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass chambers interconnected by a bellows, said bass chamber comprising a bottom wall and extending therefrom front and side walls, said front formed with a series of perforations on either end thereof, each of said side walls being formed with a series of perforations on end portions thereof adjacent said front wall, and a pair of deflecting members on said bass chamber, each of said members being positioned over said perforated end portions of said front and side walls in spaced relation thereto and adapted to direct sound waves emanating from said openings towards said treble section each of said deflecting members comprising an angular wall member comprising sections having flanged portions secured to said side and front wall portions of said chamber.

8. An accordion construction comprising treble and bass sections interconnected by a bellows, each of said sections being formed with sound transmitting openings, sound wave deflecting means on said treble section adjacent said openings therein, said deflecting means comprising a hood having an open portion directed towards said bass section and sound wave deflecting means on said bass section adjacent said openings therein, said deflecting means comprising a hood having open portions directed towards said treble section.

9. In an accordion construction comprising treble and bass sections interconnected by a bellows, said bass section comprising a bottom wall and extending therefrom a pair of spaced side walls and an interconnecting front wall, said front wall being formed with a group of perforations on each end portion thereof, each of said side walls being formed with a group of perforations on an end portion thereof adjacent a group of openings in said front wall, a walled member comprising interconnected and angularly related sections on corresponding end portions of said front and side walls, said sections being spaced from said walls by flange portions extending from an edge of said sections and disposed between said openings and said bottom wall and flange portions extendin from the sides of said sections and secured to said side walls adjacent said perforations, said second mentioned flange portions being interconnected to said first mentioned flanged portions, said flange portions and said sections being adapted to direct sound waves emanating from said perforations towards said treble section.

ROBERTO PANCOTTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 894,436 Hohner July 28, 1908 894,650 I-Iohner July 28, 1908 898,475 I-Iohner Sept. 15, 1908 1,961,152 Larson June 5, 1934 2,189,531 Del Principe Feb. 6, 1940 

